Hibiscus plant named &#39;Adonicus Red&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hibiscus  plant named ‘Adonicus Red’, characterized by its upright, mounding and bushy plant habit; dark green-colored leaves; uniform and freely flowering habit; large red-colored flowers with darker red-colored centers; and excellent flower longevity.

BOTANICAL DESIGNATION

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis CULTIVAR DENOMINATION

‘ADONICUS RED’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hibiscus plant, botanically known as Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Adonicus Red’.

The new Hibiscus plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Sabro, Denmark. The objective of the breeding program is to create new strong Hibiscus plants with attractive and long-lasting flowers.

The new Hibiscus plant originated from a cross-pollination in August, 2010 in Sabro, Denmark of a proprietary selection of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis identified as code designation GB 2008-6830, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Adonis’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,592, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Hibiscus plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Sabro, Denmark in May, 2011.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hibiscus plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Sabro, Denmark since September, 2011 has shown that the unique features of this new Hibiscus plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hibiscus have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Adonicus Red’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Adonicus Red’ as a new and distinct Hibiscus plant:

-   -   1. Upright, mounding and bushy plant habit.     -   2. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   3. Uniform and freely flowering habit.     -   4. Large red-colored flowers with darker red-colored centers.     -   5. Excellent flower longevity.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Hibiscus differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Hibiscus are not as glossy as         leaves of plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus have larger flower buds than         plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the male parent, ‘Adonis’. Plants of the new Hibiscus differ primarily from plants of ‘Adonis’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus have darker green-colored leaves         than plants of ‘Adonis’.     -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus and ‘Adonis’ differ in flower         color as plants of ‘Adonis’ have dark pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Arionicus’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,746. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Sabro, Denmark, plants of the new Hibiscus differed from plants of ‘Arionicus’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Hibiscus were darker green in         color than leaves of plants of ‘Arionicus’.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Hibiscus were not as glossy as         leaves of plants of ‘Arionicus’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Hibiscus plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Hibiscus plant. The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Adonicus Red’ grown in a container. The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of typical developing flower buds and a typical open flower of ‘Adonicus Red’. The photograph on the third sheet is a close-up view of a typical dissected flower of ‘Adonicus Red’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the autumn and winter in 13-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Sabro, Denmark and under cultural practices typical of commercial Hibiscusproduction. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 25° C., night temperatures ranged from 19° C. to 21° C. and light levels ranged from 40 to 50 klux. Plants were pinched one time eight weeks after planting and plants were 26 weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Adonicus Red’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Hibiscus             rosa-sinensis identified as code number GB 2008-6830, not             patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Adonis’,             disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,592. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About three weeks at             temperatures about 24° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About four weeks at             temperatures about 24° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About eight             weeks at temperatures about 24° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About ten             weeks at temperatures about 24° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fleshy; color, close             to 158A, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation,             substrate temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Container plant; upright, mounding             and bushy plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with usually about             four to six lateral branches developing per plant; pinching             enhances         -   lateral branch development. Plant height.—About 35 cm to 55             cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 30 cm to 50 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 10 cm to 30 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 4 mm to 8 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 1 cm to 5 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous; becoming woody with development.         -   Color, developing.—Close to 147B.         -   Color, developed.—Close to N199B and 199B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, single; numerous.         -   Length.—About 8 cm to 12 cm.         -   Width.—About 6 cm to 8 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Irregularly serrate; undulate.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous; somewhat leathery.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Scattered pubescence; venation             prominent.         -   Luster, upper surface.—Moderately glossy.         -   Luster, lower surface.—Matte.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 138A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N189A; venation,             close to 139A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 137A; venation, close to 146A.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 3 cm to 6 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm             to 3 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous. Color, upper surface: Close to N189A. Color, lower             surface: Close to 197A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement.—Flowers arranged singly at terminal leaf             axils; uniform, continuous and freely flowering habit with             numerous flowers developing per plant; flowers face mostly             upright to slightly outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower in the garden during             the spring and summer or during periods of warm weather; in             the greenhouse, plants can be flowered year-round; plants             begin flowering about 20 to 22 weeks after planting.         -   Flower longevity.—Excellent flower longevity, flowers last             for about three to four days; flowers persistent.         -   Flower diameter.—About 15 cm to 19 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 8 cm to 10 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Rate of opening: Flowers buds open in about             three to five days. Length: About 4 cm to 8 cm. Diameter:             About 2 cm to 3 cm. Shape: Ovoid to lanceolate. Color: Close             to N34A.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Five petals in a single whorl; petals             imbricate. Length: About 8 cm to 9 cm. Width: About 7 cm to             8 cm. Shape: Fan-shaped. Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate.             Margin: Entire; undulate. Texture, upper surface: Glabrous;             rough with a velvety appearance. Texture, lower surface:             Glabrous, rough with a satiny appearance. Luster, upper             surface: Matte. Luster, lower surface: Glossy. Color: When             opening, upper surface: Close to 44A; towards the base,             close to 53A. When opening, lower surface: Close to 47A.             Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 45A; towards the base,             close to 53A; with development, main color becoming closer             to 44A. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 47B; with             development, color becoming closer to 47A.         -   Sepals.—Appearance: Five sepals fused into a             campanulate-shaped calyx. Length: About 3 cm to 3.5 cm.             Width: About 1 cm to 1.5 cm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex:             Acuminate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface: Glabrous,             rough. Texture, lower surface: Glabrous, smooth. Color,             upper surface: Close to 144A. Color, lower surface: Close to             144B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2 cm to 4 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm             to 4 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly upright. Texture:             Sparsely pubescent. Color: Close to 143A and 137A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: Numerous,             more than 100. Filament length: About 5 mm to 10 mm.             Filament color: Close to 52B. Anther shape: Rounded to             ovate. Anther length: About 1 mm to 2 mm. Anther color:             Close to 20A. Amount of pollen: Abundant. Pollen color:             Close to 19A. Gynoecium: Pistil length: About 10 cm. Style             length: About 9 cm. Style texture: Smooth, waxy. Style             color: Close to 4C. Stigma appearance: Five-parted, rounded             stigma pads. Stigma color: Close to 53A. Ovary color: Close             to 149D.         -   Seeds.—Quantity produced per flower: About 1 to 15. Length:             About 5 mm. Diameter: About 5 mm. Color: Close to 202A. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have been observed     to have tolerate temperatures from about 10° C. to about 40° C. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Hibiscus     plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hibiscus plant named ‘Adonicus Red’ as illustrated and described. 